Krstic could return to action as soon as tonight agains the Sixers. In the WEEI video above he asserts that he thinks he will be ready for at least the playoffs.

The Serbian seven-footer also sees a bit of a silver lining to his injury. After a strong start to his Celtics career, Krstic had tapered off. When he first got to the team he didn't know the system very well. He was just playing and not worrying if he made any mistakes because he had that excuse. However, after learning the system he began to do more thinking than acting and it effected his performance.

Since being sidelined last Thursday against the Spurs, Krstic had taken on the role of a back up quarterback, watching and learning from the bench. He think it's helped a lot.

“Maybe these two games I missed are a good thing," said Krstic after Monday's practice. "Everything is going to settle down in my head. I was on the side, watching plays and watching how guys play. We’ll see. I have six more games to pick it up. I think I’ll be ready for the playoffs.”
As for the injury itself, Nenad thinks all he has left are some mental hurdles.

“Mentally, I’m not 100 percent," said Krstic after Monday's practice. "My knee, I still feel pain but MRI showed it’s nothing really serious so I can get through that pain. I know it’s not going to get serious. Mentally, it’s just the first practice after. It was really tough for me. I was thinking it was more serious when it [happened] but maybe it’s still in my head.”

If Nenad truly has learned a lot from being a spectator, that's a great sign for the Celtics. With Shaq unaccountable and Jermaine just returning from his own injury, Krstic could lend a big hand in a playoff run.

6 Responses so far.

"When he first got to the team he didn't know the system very well. He was just playing and not worrying if he made any mistakes because he had that excuse. However, after learning the system he began to do more thinking than acting and it effected his performance."

Joe Kleine was much worse than Nenad. It shows people haven't really seen Krstic play. Plus, why do fans always compare white players with other white guys? Kleine and Krstic couldn't be more different.

Nenad was a better offensive player than Kleine, but Joe would be a much better fit for this team. He was a tougher defender, wouldn't back down from Gasol or Bynum, had the good mid range shot and was solid on the defensive glass.

He would've picked up the defensive rotations quicker and he would've fit his role better.

Krstic looks like Luc Longley during his Timberwolf days; timid around the basket, dropping passes, messing up constantly.

And who else should I have compared him to Bohomian? A washed-up James Buddha Edwards? Herb Williams? Wayne Cooper? Benoit Benjamin? Because they're NOT white? None of their games match his. He's not identical to Kleine but I was thinking of ex-Celtics. Otherwise I would've thrown out there Slava Medvedenko or Željko Rebrača (without the 3 point range). Oh but they're white too. So I guess I can't mention them